Kennard Lee Davis v. James Walker

Plaintiff is a state prisoner proceeding pro se and in forma pauperis with the above-captioned civil rights actions pursuant to 42 U.S.C. § 1983. These proceedings have been referred to the undersigned magistrate judge in accordance with Local Rule 302 and 28 U.S.C. § 636(b)(1).

On July 26, 2011, in Case No. 2:08-cv-0593 KJM DAD (PC), plaintiff filed a motion for appointment of a guardian ad litem and/or appointment of counsel. Plaintiff's motion is predicated on his mental health status and, specifically, on the ground that he is subject to orders for administration of long term involuntary psychotropic medication pursuant to the decision in Keyhea v. Rushen, 178 Cal.App.3d 526 (1986).

On December 27, 2011, a minute order was issued in Case No. CV 06-4744-AHM (MLG) (C.D. Cal.). That order included the following findings:

Petitioner has been found incompetent. Due to mental illness, he does not have the ability to consult with his lawyer with a reasonable degree of rational understanding and does not have a rational nor factual understanding of the proceedings against him. A guardian ad litem has been appointed to represent Petitioner's interests with respect to court appointed counsel. The finding of incompetence is equally applicable to the ability of Petitioner to consult with or rationally understand the guardian ad litem.

Rule 17(c)(2) of the Federal Rules of Civil Procedure provides: A minor or incompetent person who does not have a duly appointed representative may sue by a next friend or by a guardian ad litem. The court must appoint a guardian ad litem -- or issue another appropriate order -- to protect a minor or incompetent person who is unrepresented in an action. Fed. R. Civ. P. 17(c)(2). The decision whether to appoint a guardian ad litem is "normally left to the sound discretion of the trial court." United States v. 30.64 Acres of Land, etc., 795 F.2d 796, 804 (9th Cir. 1986). "Although the court has broad discretion and need not appoint a guardian ad litem if it determines the person is or can be otherwise adequately protected, it is under a legal obligation to consider whether the person is adequately protected." Id. at 805 (citation omitted).

Plaintiff has been determined to be incompetent by another district court. He is also under a court order for involuntary medication. He has requested appointment of a guardian ad litem and/or counsel. This court has been advised by the ADR and Pro Bono Coordinator for the Eastern District of California that there is no individual available to serve as guardian ad litem for plaintiff, or to undertake the representation of plaintiff in this action. Plaintiff's motion for appointment of a guardian ad litem and/or appointment of counsel must therefore be denied.

It is also the case that the district court has "inherent authority to stay proceedings before" it. Rohan ex rel. Gates v. Woodford, 334 F.3d 803, 817 (9th Cir. 2003) (citing Landis v. N. Am. Co., 299 U.S. 248, 254 (1936). Under the unique circumstances presented here, this court finds that the most appropriate available measure that can be taken to adequately protect plaintiff in these two civil actions which he has initiated on his own behalf is to stay the cases until any party thereto provides evidence that plaintiff has been restored to competency and is capable of protecting his own interests through self-representation in these two actions while he has filed.

In view of this recommendation, all pending motions in both actions will be denied without prejudice.

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